One of Gloucester high school’s most loved English teachers, Jane Abegg, has made the decision to retire at the end of the 2025 school year. She has been a member of the GHS staff for 24 years.
Abegg started off as a para in 2001, and began teaching soon after. Before GHS, Abegg’s teaching career started in Winnett, Montana. However, in her younger years, she spent some time in Massachusetts.
As a child, Jane Abegg spent a lot of time at Boston Children’s Hospital due to medical issues. With all the time she spent in the waiting room, Abegg found her own way to pass the time. She enjoyed using the chalkboard in the waiting room to teach the younger hospitalized kids anything they wanted to know.
“I always wanted to be a teacher,” said Abegg.
When teaching high school students at GHS, Abegg specialized in teaching Junior year British Literature. Some of her favorite books that she reads with her classes are Lord of the Flies and The Great Gatsby. The Lord of the flies is a required 11th grade novel to read, and that is one of the reasons why it is one of her favorite class reads.
“By the time students hit the 11th grade, they have matured a lot,” Abegg said. “They realize, hey, we’re going to college so we have to do well.”
Throughout the years, Abegg has created some 11th grade traditions that the school will never forget. For the past five years, Abegg has hosted “Medieval week”, a week of games and activities that feature fun ways to learn about medieval romance, King Arthur, and more. Activities involve quests, crafts, a (foam) axe throwing competition, stations, groups, and lots of fun. Winners of the challenges can win prizes.
“The axe throwing was my favorite part,” former student Vincenzo Ciaramitaro said. “Her teaching style was very interactive.”
There have been hundreds of students who had the privilege of having Mrs. Abegg as their teacher. Abegg recalls some of her favorite memories are the way she impacts her students’ lives.
“That’s why teachers go into teaching,” Abegg said. “They want to make a difference. And if they can change at least one child’s life, it’s all been worth it.”
Abegg mentioned one of her former students from when she worked in Montana. The girl had just moved there due to bullying at her old school.
“It was really hard for her to fit in,” said Abegg. “And she wasn’t making it easy on herself.”
The student wasn’t getting along with the other students and Mrs. Abegg decided to step in and help.
“One day I pulled her aside and explained how she was a great kid, but the way she treated her classmates pulled them away from her,” Abegg said. “I think this changed her life, because after I left I was informed that she was voted president of the class.”
Abegg recalled another student that she had previously taught. The student was having trouble with his grades, and was struggling to get into college. Abegg said that she advised him to take the route through community college.
“Go over to North Shore, prove yourself there, and then apply to the college you wanted to go to,” Abegg advised the boy to do.
Within the past year, Abegg had been informed that the same struggling boy she taught has gotten a masters’ degree from Harvard University.
When Abegg officially retires, she looks forward to crafting and getting some rest. With health concerns making Abegg’s retirement sooner than she expected, she hopes to use her time to finally achieve her lifelong dream.
“Since I was a little girl, it’s always been my dream to write a novel,” Abegg said.
Abegg’s creative side will also fulfill her free time. She is known for making jewelry, sculptures, baked goods, and so much more.
With future plans to write a book and use her free time creatively, Abegg is looking forward to bringing her teaching career to a close.
When she leaves the GHS staff for good, she will be “missed forever,” one of her current students said.
